12 April 2023

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding Agnipath scheme:

1. The Agnipath scheme intends for recruiting all the soldiers under permanent commission across the three services.
2. The scheme is only for personnel below officer ranks.
3. As part of the scheme, some part of the salary will be set aside under a Seva Nidhi programme, and the government will contribute an equal amount every month.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

• Under the new scheme, around 45,000 to 50,000 soldiers will be recruited annually, and most will leave the service in just four years. Of the total annual recruits, only 25 per cent will be allowed to continue for another 15 years under permanent commission.
• The new system is only for personnel below officer ranks(those who do not join the forces as commissioned officers).
• Under the Agnipath scheme, aspirants between the ages of 17.5 years and 21 years will be eligible to apply. The recruitment standards will remain the same, and recruitment will be done twice a year through rallies.
• Importantly, during this period, 30 per cent of their salary will be set aside under a Seva Nidhi programme, and the government will contribute an equal amount every month, and it will also accrue interest.

Q2. Consider the following statements:

1. REN21 is a global policy network that provides a forum for international leadership on renewable energy.
2. REN21 was created in 2012 as an outcome of the Bonn 2012 International Conference on Renewable Energy.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation:

• S2: REN21 was created in 2004 as an outcome of the Bonn 2004 International Conference on Renewable Energy. This “coalition of the willing” came together with one objective in mind: to support and accelerate the development of renewable energy.
• S1: REN21 (Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century) is a think tank and a multistakeholder governance group which is focused on renewable energy policy.

Q3. The strategic sale of PSUs in undertaken by which of the following departments:

1. Department of Investment and Public Asset Management
2. RBI
3. SEBI
4. Ministry of Corporate Affairs

Q4. The provision of Separation of Power has been mentioned in which of the following articles of the Indian Constitution:

1. Article 14
2. Article 32
3. Article 50
4. Article 141

Q5. Injeti Srinivas Committee was constituted to provide recommendations on which of the following:

1. Corporate Social Responsibility
2. Banking Reforms
3. Railway Reforms
4. Coal Sector Reforms

Q6. Consider the following statements with respect to the benefits provided by Transit Oriented Development:

1. It enhances the ease of living of citizens.
2. It helps to reduce the negative effect on the climate of the region.
3. It helps to drastically reduce the debt burden of the government as it finances in long term sustainable solutions.
4. It helps to revitalize the urban areas
5. It helps to create more jobs
6. It helps to boost the local economy

1. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 only
2. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 only
3. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 only
4. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6

Q7.  Justice Shashikant Committee was constituted to provide recommendations on which of the following:

1. Extra Judicial Killings
2. Judicial Reforms
3. Economic Reforms
4. Corporate Governance Reforms

Q8. With reference to Custodial Violence, consider the following statements:

1. The provisions of the CrPC and IPC authorize an officer to undertake encounter of a criminal until his death if he is a proved danger for societal peace and harmony.
2. NHRC has stated that under the laws of India,the police officials have no right to take away the life of another person.

Choose correct statements:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q9. Consider the following statements with respect to the ‘Prompt Corrective Action Framework’:

1. The PCA Framework would apply to all banks operating in India including foreign banks operating through branches or subsidiaries based on breach of risk thresholds of identified indicators.
2. When a bank is placed under PCA, appropriate restrictions on capital expenditure, other than for technological up-gradation within Board approved limits

Which of the statements given above are correct?

• 1 only
• 2 only
• Both 1 and 2
• Neither 1 nor 2

Q10. With reference to the Housing Finance Companies, recently seen in the news, consider the following statements:

1. A NBFC must have 50% of its assets in housing loans and 75% of those loans must be for individual homeowners to qualify as HFCs.
   2. Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) are specialist non-banking financial companies (NBFC).
   3. The National Housing Bank (NHB) oversees the HFCs.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• 1 and 2 only
• 2 and 3 only
• 1 and 3 only
• 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Which of the following activities cannot be done by the Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs)?

1. Accept demand deposits
2. Outsource core management functions
3. Management of investment portfolio

Choose the correct answer using the code given below:

1. Only 1 pair is correct
2. Only 2 pairs are correct
3. All 3 pairs are correct
4. None of the pairs are correct

Explanation: NBFC cannot undertake any of the above activities.

Q12. Consider the following statement about the Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme:

1. These are government securities denominated in grams of gold.
   2. These securities can be used as collateral for loans from financial Institutions and Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFC).
   3. These bonds are tradable.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Q13. In context of the Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), consider the following statements:

1. Residuary Non-Banking Companies are category of NBFCs whose principal business is acceptance of deposits and investing in approved securities.

2. NBFCs cannot outsource core management functions and management of investment portfolio.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q14. Consider the following statements about prepaid payment instruments.

1. Prepaid payment instruments are those which facilitate purchase of both goods and services against the value stored on such instruments.
2. Inter-personal remittance transactions is not possible.
3. These payment instruments are licensed and regulated by the Ministry of Finance.

Which of the above statements is/are incorrect?

1 and 2 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

Q15. With reference to the New Development Bank, consider the following statements:
1. The Fortaleza Declaration gave birth to the New Development Bank (NDB).
2. As part of the Fortaleza Declaration, the BRICS states joined the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA) in 2014.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Q16. The PartNIR is a programme of partnership among:

1. BRICS Nations
2. G 20 Nations
3. G7 Nations
4. ASEAN Nations

Q17. The term ‘Digital Single Market Strategy’ seen in the news is related to which of the following:

1. EU
2. G 20
3. ASEAN
4. BRICS

Q18. Consider the following statements regarding the Miss Universe contest.

1. Miss Universe is an international beauty contest conducted once in three years.
2. It is conducted by a United States based organisation.
3. Till now India has won the title thrice since its inception.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?

1. 1, 2
2. 2, 3
3. 1, 3
4. 1, 2, 3

EXPLANATION

• Miss Universe is an annual international beauty pageant that is run by the United States–based Miss Universe Organization. Along with Miss World, Miss International, and Miss Earth, Miss Universe is one of the Big Four international beauty pageants. Miss Universe 2021 was the 70th Miss Universe pageant.
• The current Miss Universe is Harnaaz Sandhu of India. This is India’s first victory in 21 years, and its third in the history of the pageant.

Q19. UN convention on the Rights of persons with disabilities includes which of these rights for the differently abled?

1. Rights to personal mobility
2. Rights to live independently and be included in the community
3. Rights to participate in political and public life
4. Rights to recreation and sport

Select the correct answer code:

1. 1, 3, 4
2. 1, 2
3. 1, 2, 4
4. 1, 2, 3, 4

EXPLANATION

Rights specific to this convention include the rights to accessibility including the information technology, the rights to live independently and be included in the community (Article 19), to personal mobility (article 20), habilitation and rehabilitation (Article 26), and to participation in political and public life, and cultural life, recreation and sport (Articles 29 and 30).

Q20. Survival International sometimes seen in news advocates the rights of

1. Trafficked human beings
2. Refugees
3. Tribal people
4. Leprosy patients

EXPLANATION

• Survival International is a human rights organisation formed in 1969 that campaigns for the rights of indigenous and/or tribal peoples and uncontacted peoples.
• The organisation’s campaigns generally focus on tribal peoples’ desires to keep their ancestral lands. Survival International states that it aims to help foster tribal people’s self-determination.